AI leaders urge focus on ethics, governance & sustainability
As AI Appreciation Day approaches, industry leaders are taking the opportunity to reflect on the growing impact of artificial intelligence in Australia and around the world, emphasising both the technology's transformative potential and the urgent challenges of governance, ethics, and sustainability.
The application of AI has become widespread across various sectors, including retail, finance, cybersecurity, and human resources. Hayley Fisher, Country Manager ANZ at Adyen, highlights how AI is moving from novelty to necessity in retail, with a 45% increase in AI-powered shopping over the past year. "Whether it's helping Aussies plan meals or pull together an outfit, AI is fast becoming the go-to shopping companion," she says. Fisher also notes that AI is increasingly relied upon behind the scenes to combat fraud, enhance conversion rates, and reduce operational costs, pointing out that businesses that most effectively harness AI are leveraging it to improve outcomes for both teams and customers.
Yet as enthusiasm for AI grows, so does the complexity of the risks involved. Andrew Kay, Director Systems Engineering, APJ at Illumio, cautions, "AI is increasingly being used by threat actors to ramp up their attacks. Today's threats are more sophisticated and more accessible, allowing even novice cybercriminals to carry out highly effective attacks." He references a high-profile incident involving a finance worker at a multinational Hong Kong bank, who was manipulated into transferring USD $25 million using a Zoom deepfake scam. However, Kay notes, AI is also enhancing defences: tools such as AI cloud detection and response can now help organisations detect and limit the spread of breaches in real-time.
Cybersecurity is not the only area facing a surge in both opportunity and scrutiny. George Moawad, Country Manager Oceania at Genetec, reports that over 40% of security decision-makers are now prioritising AI-driven solutions. However, he underlines growing demands for transparency, governance, and ethics. "This capability also raises concerns about over-surveillance and potential misuse," he notes, advocating for the establishment of oversight committees and clear protocols to ensure AI's responsible use.
The focus on governance emerged as a common thread in expert commentary. Vini Cardoso, Chief Technology Officer of Cloudera Australia & New Zealand, emphasises that "strong governance and strategic leadership" are essential as agentic AI - AI that autonomously pursues goals - becomes more prevalent. Pointing to new research and a shift in industry attitudes, Cardoso writes, "AI must be built on secure, well-governed data foundations. Without it, we can't trust the models, let alone scale them safely." Data privacy, bias, and skills shortages remain key obstacles for organisations seeking to deploy AI at scale, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as finance and healthcare.
Amid these challenges, industry specialists are also advocating for a broader, more socially responsible dialogue around AI. Simon Wistow, Co-Founder of Fastly, highlights the environmental consequences of AI innovation. "Gen AI isn't just some magical cloud outputting poetry and code, it's millions of GPUs crunching vectors and consuming serious power", he observes, stressing the need for efficiency and transparency in AI development. Survey data from Fastly indicates that 45% of respondents would prioritise energy-efficient models if AI usage costs were tied to energy consumption.
Matthew Hardman, APAC Chief Technology Officer at Hitachi Vantara, highlights the foundational requirement of high-quality data and effective project management for successful AI implementation. "AI relies on high-quality, comprehensive data to deliver accurate results," Hardman notes, adding that integrating AI within outdated or hybrid infrastructures requires careful planning. Echoing this, David Lloyd, Chief AI Officer at Dayforce, sees a unique opportunity for HR to take a strategic leadership role - guiding AI adoption in a way that is both ethical and people-focused.
The message from industry is clear: for AI to deliver on its promise, businesses must look beyond technical innovation and proactively prioritise governance, ethical use, sustainability, and human empowerment. As organisations continue to deploy AI across all aspects of their operations, industry leaders urge a responsible and balanced approach so that AI's benefits can be safely and inclusively realised for businesses, workers and society at large.
